David and Lisanne Pahler claim that their daughter died as a direct consequence of Slayer’s lyrics and music, however their latest claims that Slayer “knowingly distributed harmful material to minors” was thrown our of court earlier this week by Judge E. Jeffrey Burke at the San Luis Obispo Superior Court.

The case has already been dismissed by a judge who deemed that there was insufficient evidence to proceed, yet the couple instructed their lawyers to file a third amended complaint for damages against Slayer, their label and other industry and label entities. The prosecution alleged that Slayer have “devilish lyrics” and produced quotes from the band explaining satanic practices in previous interviews. However Judge E. Jeffrey Burke stated “I do not consider Slayer’s music obscene, indecent or harmful to minors.”

Pahler’s body was found close to her home near San Luis Obispo, California, in March 1996. She had been lured to her death there eight months earlier by Jacob Delashmutt, Joseph Fiorella and Royce Casey – all of whom are now imprisoned and serving 25 years to life. In their defence, the trio said they had needed to commit a “sacrifice to the devil” in order to give their then band Hatred, the “craziness” to “go professional”. They choked and stabbed her to death, returning later to have sex with her corpse.

The Pahlers have 60 days to appeal against the ruling.